Neither of these guys will be playing in tonight's Lakers-Celtics game, and ESPN likes to remind us of that by rubbing depressing facts in our faces.

The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers rivalry has been deemed the best in the NBA. It was renewed in recent years due to the competitiveness of the 2008 and 2010 finals, but for the most part, the prominent players that reignited the rivalry won't be on the court tonight. Kobe Bryant is sidelined. We won't see Paul Pierce and Metta World Peace jawing at each other. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are gone. But that doesn't matter to most faithful Celtics and Lakers fans who, no matter the state of their team and its roster, always get excited when their teams clash.

No team has a worse record than the Lakers (1-12) and the Celtics (2-11)
since December 21. The Lakers win percentage (.359) this season is on
pace to be their worst since they moved from Minneapolis and the Celtics
(.350) would be their fourth-worst in franchise history.

Crazy Stat of the Day: Lakers and Celtics will meet tonight with the worst combined win % (.354) in series HISTORY. (via @EliasSports)
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 17, 2014

The Celtics are on pace to have the 4th worst record in franchise history.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 17, 2014

Lakers are on pace to have their worst win pct since the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1960.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 17, 2014

The Lakers and Celtics are both on pace to pick in the lottery this year. The last time both picked in the top 10? 1994.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 17, 2014

So the Worldwide Leader in Sports seems to be promoting this year's match-up as a $hit show. Thanks ESPN. Maybe they prefer that people tune into the games they are carrying on their network tonight -- Clippers vs Knicks and Warriors vs Thunder -- instead of the match-up between the two most storied franchises in the NBA.

In any case, here is a more positive fact -- Rondo will be returning tonight, and the Celtics are better with Mr. Triple Double on the court than without him:

Entering this season, the Celtics were 48-34 in games Rondo missed in his career. This season they are 14-26 without him.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 17, 2014

Rajon Rondo led the NBA last season with 5 triple-doubles. He played in 38 games.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 17, 2014

Whether or not ESPN continues to post some historically depressing facts about the current state of the Celtics and Lakers, I think most faithful Celtics and Lakers fans are still pumped for tonight's game. Are you? Sound off in the comments.